Electric switch



W. R. WALKER ELECTRIC SWITCH Feb. 9, 1932.

Filed Jan. 12. 1927 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WARREN B. WALKER, or nnoomrmnn, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 GENERAL ELECTRIC- VAPOR LAMP COMPANY,'OF HOIBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION NEW JERSEY ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed January 12, 1927. Serial No. 160,578.

- The present invention relates to electric switch devices useful for the opening and closing of electric circuits in the art generally. The invention relates more particularly to an electric switch of the liquid flow type havinga receptacle within which terminates a plurality of electrodes, a liquid for making and breaking a conducting path between said electrodes, and alining for saidreceptacle 1 formed for separating said liquid to break the circuit therethrough and for protecting it against changes in temperature due to the production of arcs during the opening and closing of the switch and for protecting it against any erosive action of any such arcs.- Ii.

ther relates to such a lined receptacle switch 1 -in which the lining is free to move in the...

envelope into positions inwhichthe circuit is broken t ereby or in which the liquid closes a circuit therethrough. The invention further relates to such a switch in which the lining is made of an arc resisting material capable of withstanding high temperatures and rapid fluctuations in temperature. Various objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following particular description of forms of apparatus embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also consists in certain new and useful features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

I have discovered that a switch capable of breaking currents of high values at frequent intervals can be made of relatively cheap material and by simple methods by providing an electric switch of the liquid flow type having a sealed envelope with electrodes terminating therein and in contact with a conducting liquid therein which is capable of breaking such electrical contact and with a protective lining for. said envelope extending between said electrodes and to such other points as are necessary for said protection, which lining has formed therein a well for holding a quantity of the conducting liquid aboutthe end of one of the electrodes at all positions in the normal operation of the switch and for separating the liquid into two bodies for the breaking of the circuit therethrough.

The lining in some cases is made to hold all of the conducting liquid in all positions of the switch as well as to separate the liquid to open the circuit therethrough in which case the envelope serves to hold an atmosphere about the circuit making and breaking parts of the switch such for example as an atmosphere of hydrogen.

The lining is further characterized by that it is made movable in the envelope into circuit making and breaking positions and by that it has attached thereto a magnetic armature whereby it can be actuated as by means of a magnet properly energized and positioned I outsidesaid envelope.

In. the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration one form of apparatus with certain modifications thereof embodying the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the invention,

i Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line H of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of still another alternative embodiment of the in- Vention and Fig. 6 1s a perspective vlew of an electrode used in the apparatus of Fig. 5 and applicable for use in embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the lining 1, which is preferably cylindrical, has formed thereon the end partitions 3, 3, centrally in each of which is provided an opening 5. T'ransversely in said lining, 1 there extends the partition 6 which divides said lining 1 into two chambers 8, 8 and which has therethrough near the Wall of the lining 1 an opening 10 which connects said chambers 8, 8. About said lining 1 is the sealed envelope 12 through each end of which there is sealed an electrode 14, which extends inwardly through a corresponding opening 5 in said liningl into the corresponding chamber 8 and therein turns downwardly at an tity of mercury 16 which extends to said opening 10 and electrically joins said conductors 14, 14 in a closed circuit position of the switch.

supports and buoys up said lining 1 to keep it free for rotation about the parts of said electrodes 14, 14 which extend axially of said lining 1 and envelope 12. A body 20 of magnetic material such as nickel'or iron is embedded in the wall of lining 1 and together with a magnet not shown which is movable or which can be energized and deenergized is operable to rotate said lining 1 about its axis to raise said opening 10 above the level ofsaid body of mercury 16 and thereby separate said body into two bodies for the purpose of breaking the electric path between said electrodes 14, 14. The material of said lining 1 is of hard or soft glass or of fused silica or other suitable material and the material of said outer .envelope 12 is also of. any of these citedmaterials or of any other suitable material.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 no body of mercury such as body 18 of Fig. 1 is used for buoying up said lining 1, and said lining is supported by the" electrodes '14, 14 for rotation thereabout. Also in this embodiment the magnetic armature 22 is mounted on the outside surfaceof the lining 1 instead of being embedded therein.

As indicated in Fig. 4 a'pair of electromag-. nets 24 and 26 are mounted outside said envelope 12 and in operative relation to said armature 22 for moving said lining 1 into and for holding said lining in circuit making and circuit breaking positions. Such operations can be as follows: The said armature 22 being directly below said electromagnet 24 which is prefrably maintained energized to hold said lining 1 with said opening 10 below the surface of said body of liquid 16, the switch is in the closed circuit position. To open the circuit therethrough said electromagnet'24- is de-energized and the electromagnet 26 energized to actuate said armature 22 and move it into the position indicated by the dotted lines opposite said electromagnet 26 whereby said opening 10 is raised above the surface of saidmercury 16 and the electric path therethrough broken. It is to be understood, of course, that instead of the two electromagnets 24 and 26 other actuating means may be used, such for example as an electromagnet or a permanent magnet which is in operable relation to said armature 22 and which is movable to cause said armature 22 to rotate said lining 1 until said opening 10 is lowered below or raised above the level of the liquid 16 to make or break the current path.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown the appara- In said envelope 12 there is provided a quantity of mercury 18' which breaking current path through the switch by having it of sufficient mass to overcomeany friction in the device and by having it properly positioned with respect to said opening 10. Apermanent magnet or an electromagnet is in such case used to actuate theiarmature to move the lining 1 to an opposite position of make or break from that in whichthe weight of the armature holds it or moves it. Also, it is to be understood, a spring can be used to act on said lining 1 to move it into a given position of make or break, from which position the armature 20 or 22 can be operated by a magnet to move the lining to the opposite operating position.

In the making "of the device of Figs. 1 to 4 the electrodes14, 14 can he slipped through said openings 5, 5 before they are sealed into the wall of said envelope 12, likewise in the device of Fig. 5 the electrode 30 can be of flexible wire which can be sprung out of shape sufficiently to thread this electrode through a correspond ng opening 5 until the end of the electrode is within the corresponding chamber 8.

While I. have shown and described and have pointed out in the annexed claims certain novel features of the invention', it will be understood that various omissidns, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims:

1. In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, an envelope, electrodes terminating in said envelope, a liningfree to revolve within said envelope, a conducting fluid in said lining, said lining being formed to hold the liquid therein from contact with the envelope in any rotational position thereof about a given axis, a partition in said lining to hold said liquid in two separate parts or pools in an open circuit position of the switch, one of said electrodes terminating in each of said pools, said partition having an opening therethrough, said liquid being in amount said envelope, a lining free to revolve within said envelope, a conducting fluid in said lining, said lining being formed to hold liquid therein from contact with the envelope in any rotational position thereof about av given axis, a partition in said lining to hold said liquid in two separate parts or pools in an open circuit position of the switch, one of said electrodes terminating in each of said pools, said partition having an opening fherethrough, said liquid being in amount sufiicient to extend through said opening to join said electrodes in a closed circuit position of the switch, means for supporting said lining for rotation about the axis of said envelope, and a magnetic armature attached to said lining.

3. In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, an envelope, electrodes terminating in said envelope, a movable inner lining and a conducting fluid in said lining, said lining being formed to hold liquid therein in any movable position of the lining in said envelope and having means therein to hold a pool of said'liquid separate from another pool thereof in an open circuit position of the switch, one of said electrodes terminating in each of said pools, said liquid being in amount sufficient to join said electrodes in a closed circuit position of the switch.

4. In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, an envelope, electrodes terminating in said envelope, a movable inner lining for said envelope and a conducting fluid therein, said lining being formed to hold liquid therein in any movable position of the lining in said envelope and having means therein to hold a pool of said liquid separate from another pool thereof in an open circuit position of the lining, one of said electrodes terminating in each of said pools, said liquid being in amount suflicient to join said electrodes in a. closed circuit position of the lining, said lining being supported for circuit making and breaking movement in said envelope.

5. In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, an envelope, electrodes terminating in said envelope, a movable inner lining for said envelope, a conducting fluid therein, said lining being formed to hold liquid therein in any movable position of the lining in said envelope and having means therein to hold a pool of said liquid separate from another pool thereof in an open circuit position of the switch, one of said electrodes terminating in each of said pools, said liquid being in amount suilicient to join said electrodes in a closed circuit position of the switch, and a magnetic armature attachedto said lining.

6. In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, an envelope, electrodes terminating in said envelope, a movable inner lining for said envelope. a conducting fluid therein, said lining being formed to hold liquid therein in any movable position of the lining in said envelope and having means therein to hold amount sufiicient to, join said electrodes in a closed circuit position of the lining, said lining being supported for circuit making and breaking movement in said envelope, and a magnetic armature attached to said lining.

7. In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, an envelope, electrodes terminating in said envelope, a movable cylindrical inner lining for said. envelope, a conducting fluid therein, said lining being formed to hold liquid therein in any movable position of the lining in said envelope and having a partition to form a pair of chambers therein each to hold a pool of said liquid separate from another pool thereof in an open circuit position of the switch, said partition having an opening therethrough joining said chambers, one of said electrodes terminating in each of said pools, said liquid being in amount suilicient to join said electrodes in a closed circuit position of the switch, and means for supporting said lining for rotational movement in said envelope.

8. In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, an envelope, electrodes terminating in said envelope, a movable cylindrical inner lining for said envelope, a conducting fluid therein, said lining being formed to hold liquid therein in any movable position of the lining in said envelope and having a partition to form a pair of chambers therein each to hold a pool of said liquid separate from another pool thereof in an open circuit position of the switch, said partition having an opening therethrough joining said chambers one of said electrodes terminating in each of said pools, said liquid being in amount suiiicient to join said electrodes in a closed circuit position of the switch, and means for supporting said lining for rotation movement in said envelope,each of said electrodes being formed to contact with its respective pool of the mercury in any rotational position of said lining.

9. In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, an envelope, electrodes terminating in said envelope, a'movable inner lining and a conducting fluid in said lining, said lining being formed to hold liquid therein in any movable position of the lining in said envelope and having means therein to hold a pool of said liquid separate from another pool thcreoi in an open circuit position of the switch. one of said electrodes terminating in each of said pools, said liquid being in amount suilicicnt to join said electrodes in a closed circuit position of the switch, said electrodes being formed and positioned relative to said lining to support it for circuit making and breaking movement thereof.

10.- In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, an envelope, electrodes terminating in said envelope, a movable inner lining, a conducting fluid in said lining, said lining being formed to hold liquid therein in any movable position of the lining in said envelope and having means therein to hold a pool of said liquid separate from another pool thereof in an open circuit position of the switch, one of said electrodes terminating in each of said pools, said liquid being in amount suflicient to join said electrodes in a closed circuit position of the switch, said electrodes being formed and positioned relative to said lining 1 to support it for circuit making and breaking movement thereof, and a magnetic armature attached to said lining.

11. In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, an envelope, electrodes terminating in said envelope, a movable inner lining, a conducting fluid in said lining, said lining being formed to hold liquid therein in any movable position of the lining in said envelope and having means therein each to hold a pool of said liquid separate from another pool there-- of in an open circuit position of the switch, one of said electrodes terminating in each of said pools, said liquid being in amount suflicient to join said electrodes in a closed circuit position of the switch, said electrodes being "formed and positioned relative to said lining to support it for circuit making and breaking movement thereof and a quantity of said liquid in said envelope for the purpose of supporting said lining for its circuit making and breaking movement.

Signed at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, this 10th day of January, A. D. 1927.

WARREN R. WALKER 

